Sabah stand-off: 10 charged with Lahad Datu intrusion

From Asia One/New Straits Times (May 15): Sabah stand-off: 10 charged with Lahad Datu intrusion

The nephew of Jamalul Kiram III was among 10 people charged at the High Court here yesterday with the Lahad Datu intrusion.

Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, 49, and eight others were accused of waging war against the king and being a member of a terrorist group at the High Court, which presided at the Tawau Prisons Department.

A woman, Norhaida Ibnahi, was also accused of being a member of a terrorist group.

For the additional charge of waging war against the king, Amirbahar and the eight others -- Rijmal Salleh, Saidili Jaharul, Dani Ismail, Pabblo Alie, Mohamad Ali Ahmad, Basil Samiul, Rizman Gulan and Abdul Majil Jubin -- face the death penalty if convicted.

No plea was recorded from the 10, who were produced before High Court judge Ravinthran Paramaguru, who postponed the hearing to June 7.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail appeared for the prosecution assisted by Prosecution Division (policy) deputy head Datuk Nordin Hassan.

"We are looking into the possibility of holding joint trials but that will be carried out once we sort out the counsels representing the accused, among other things," said Gani.

In the hearing yesterday, Gani said he may apply to have the cases transferred to Kota Kinabalu.

Present yesterday was counsel James Tsai, who was appointed by the Philippine government to represent Filipino nationals accused of being involved in the intrusion, which began in Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in February.

The intrusion escalated into an all-out military operation by Malaysian security forces centred on the Felda Sahabat area and had spread into several east coast districts, such as Semporna, Beluran, Kunak and Sandakan.

Apart from Tsai, several counsels were also present, including representatives from the Sabah Law Association, who held a watching brief, led by its president Datuk Gaanesh Nandy, Datuk John Sikayun, Syarulnizam Salleh and Ram Singh.

The number of people charged in the High Court in connection with the intrusion now stands at 30.

This includes a policeman, Corporal Hassan Ali Basari, who claimed trial after being accused of withholding information about terrorist activities.

He was charged under Section 130M of the Penal Code.

The trial for Hassan, who is represented by counsel Kamaruddin Mohmad Chinki, has been set for June 24 to June 28.

Of the 29 other suspects, five were represented by counsels while the rest were under Tsai, who is expected to apply for an ad hoc submission for International Criminal Court Counsel Datuk N. Sivananthan and assign counsels from the Sabah Law Association.

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